Medomega chlamydos, Winterton, Shaun L. & Lambkin, Christine L., 2012

Winterton, Shaun L. & Lambkin, Christine L., 2012, New Australian stiletto flies: revision of Manestella Metz and description of Medomega gen. n. (Diptera, Therevidae, Agapophytinae), ZooKeys 240, pp. 1-119 : 23-24

Medomega chlamydos sp. n. Figs 828384

Type material.

Holotype male, AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: Kennedy Range N.P., Malaise at edge of Falls pool [-24.645, 115.173], 26. iv– 10.v.2003, M. E. Irwin, F. D. Parker (WAM).

Paratype. AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: male, Mt. Augustus N.P., Malaise at Edney’s Springs [-24.365, 116.87], 25. iv– 7.v.2003, M. E. Irwin, F. D. Parker (CAS).

Diagnosis.

Wing white translucent with irregular apical brown mottling; all head and body setae white; scutum with narrow medial stripe; scape dark with silver-grey pubescence; posterior surface of mid coxa without setae; extensive appressed setae on abdomen.

Description.

Body length= 6.5-7.0 mm (male). Head. Male frontal pubescence silver-grey, flat to slightly rounded in profile, strip of fine white setae along eye margin; male frons width at narrowest point narrower than anterior ocellus but not contiguous; male with single row of white postocular macrosetae immediately laterad of ocellar tubercle (additional row of smaller setae anteriorly); occipital pubescence grey, narrow triangular marking medially; genal and parafacial setae white; antennal scape equal to flagellum in length, overlain with dense silver-grey pubescence admixed with numerous large white setae; flagellum orange-yellow, terminus dark. Thorax. Scutal pubescence silver-grey with narrow brown medial stripe and irregular tessellate markings laterally; numerous elongate white setae covering scutum, macrosetae white, setal bases dark; pleuron with silver-grey pubescence; katatergite setae uniformly white; anepisternum with grey-brown marking; coxae dark, overlain with silver-grey pubescence, setae mostly white, mid coxa without setae on posterior surface; femora dark grey-brown, apices yellow, dense long white setae on anterior and posterior surfaces, hind femur with two av setae apically; tibiae yellow midway, dark grey-brown apically and basally; tarsi brown, basitarsus dark yellow basally; wing white translucent, faint mottled infuscation apically and along wing veins;scutal chaetotaxy (pairs): np, 3; sa, 1; pa, 1; dc, 3; sc, 1. Abdomen. Male abdomen base colour darkish, obscured by dense silver velutum on tergites 2-7, admixed with extensive, appressed, long silver-white setae; terminalia dark yellow. Male genitalia. Gonocoxite with membranous medial atrium and sparse pubescence laterally; outer gonocoxal process relatively broad and spatulate.

Comments.

Medomega chlamydos sp. n. can be distinguished by the extensive silver-white pile on the head and body, white macrosetae, wings mostly white translucent and lack of setae on the posterior surface of the mid coxa. The latter character is present in the closely related Medomega averyi sp. n. Both Medomega chlamydos sp. n. and Medomega averyi sp. n. share distinctive characteristics which suggest adaptation to a hot arid climate, including extensive white or silvery pile and white translucent wings, features found in other desert inhabiting species, which reflect rather than absorb solar radiation and presumably help regulate body temperature. The female is unknown for this species.

Etymology.

The species epithet is from the Greek, chlamydos, mantle, cloak; referring to the extensive white pile on the body.